Volunteer shares her passion for sailing with Sail Beyond Cancer and other maritme organizations
After accepting nominations through the fall, the staff at SpinSheet has voted for our 2022 Volunteer of the Year: Vicki Saporta, Sail Beyond Cancer Annapolis’s (SBCA) president and lead captain.
Suzanne Johnson, SBCA’s executive director, says, “Vicki has been instrumental in getting the Annapolis chapter started—from putting together the board of directors and conducting monthly board meetings, to conducting outreach and fundraising activities and recruiting and training captains and crew. She has also personally conducted seven of our 24 sails this year for cancer patients and their loved ones aboard her Sabre 402 and raced her boat in the three charity races “Sail Beyond Cancer” banners to raise awareness for SBCA.
“Vicki is also a key volunteer with other maritime organizations in the Chesapeake Region. In 2022, she qualified as a coastal skipper with the U.S. Naval Academy and instructed midshipmen in part of their July and August blocks. She was also recognized by Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) as a skipper who volunteered more than 25 hours this year to take their clients on sails, including coaching a woman veteran to victory on her all-women team in the Recovering Warrior Sailing Regatta. Additionally, in 2022 Vicki served her first year as president of Chesapeake Area Professional Captains Association (CAPCA) and commodore of Chesapeake Bay Sabre Association. She is also a Clean Water Captain and raises oyster spat off her dock for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).
“Vicki has turned volunteering into a full-time job and has made a difference in the lives of so many in the Chesapeake region.”
Vicki says, “After I retired, I wanted to continue to make a difference, so I chose to share my passion for sailing with others who could benefit from this special experience. Sail Beyond Cancer Annapolis allows me to give the memorable gift of sailing to patients struggling with cancer and their loved ones. I’ve experienced firsthand what an incredible difference these respite sails make in the lives of the wonderful people we take sailing.”
As a token of our appreciation to Vicki for making our waterfront community better, SpinSheet will make a donation to Sail Beyond Cancer.
